The French midfielder linked up with the Gunners when he was just 16 years old, following a week-long trial, and has been at the club ever since.

He became a key player in Arsene Wenger’s side last season when he was surprisingly called back from a loan spell with Charlton Athletic, impressing in the troublesome defensive midfield role at the Emirates and making the position his own.

Coquelin has, however, admitted that he very nearly didn’t join at after being given a baptism of fire in his first training session.

“When I left Arsenal I wasn’t sure whether I would come back,” he told arsenal.com.

“I remember my first training session with the first team and it was war. I said to the boss at the door when I left, ‘This is different!’ I remember seeing two players fighting in training, and I had an argument with Jens Lehmann as well and I was thinking, ‘Wow, where am I?’”

Sean Lunt

Sean Lunt is a Journalism and Spanish graduate with a passion for football. As an avid Everton fan he has survived the Walter Smith era, enjoyed the resurgence under David Moyes and is now wholly embracing the Spanish revolution with Roberto Martinez. Away from Everton he follows the rest of the football league and has a particular interest in La Liga.